Construction of Gwanpyeongwon Building Proceeded Despite Knowing 'Excluded Institution'... Special Privilege Canceled, Legal Review Planned

Among 49 People, 19 Are Due for Move-in... Only 9 Actually Move In

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] It has been confirmed that the Korea Customs Service, the Administrative City Construction Agency (Happy City), and the Ministry of Strategy and Finance all proceeded with the procedures without verifying the relocation plan notice related to the construction of the new building for the Customs Evaluation and Classification Institute under the Korea Customs Service in Sejong City.

On the 11th, the Office for Government Policy Coordination announced that it identified such issues in the investigation results related to the new building construction of the Customs Evaluation and Classification Institute and decided to forward the related materials to the National Investigation Headquarters for investigation.

The Korea Customs Service promoted the construction of the new building due to increased workload and personnel, and from October 2015, reviewed the construction site without confirming that the Customs Evaluation and Classification Institute was an excluded agency in the Sejong City relocation plan announced in October 2005.

The Administrative City Construction Agency and Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH), which conducted the preliminary site review, also did not verify the relocation plan notice. The Ministry of Strategy and Finance likewise included the new building construction in the government budget without confirming that the Customs Evaluation and Classification Institute was an excluded agency.

In December 2017, more than two years after the construction was promoted, it was confirmed during the internal review process of the Administrative City Construction Agency after the Korea Customs Service obtained the building permit that the Customs Evaluation and Classification Institute was an excluded agency.

According to the investigation by the Office for Government Policy Coordination, among the 49 people who received special housing allocation, 19 were approaching their move-in time; of these 19, 9 actually moved in, 9 leased the houses, and 1 person resold the house.

The Office for Government Policy Coordination stated that it plans to conduct additional investigations on retirees and others. It said, "Additional investigations on related personnel (retirees) at the time are necessary," and "All investigation materials will be forwarded to the National Investigation Headquarters for investigation, and related ministries will conduct additional internal audits and take personnel measures such as disciplinary actions."

Meanwhile, the cancellation of the special housing allocation will be decided after the results of the National Investigation Headquarters' investigation and further legal review.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.